Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band founded in London, United… Read Full Bio ↴Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band founded in London, United Kingdom active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists. Although not commercially successful, they did achieve a cult following.

The band's onetime stated aim was to "expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular," although this stance was to alter significantly with time. While never achieving the commercial heights of progressive rock contemporaries such as Jethro Tull, Genesis, Yes or Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Gentle Giant was considered to be one of the most experimental bands in the genre (as well as one of the most experimental rock bands of the 1970s).

Gentle Giant's music was considered complex even by progressive rock standards, drawing on a broad swathe of music including folk, soul, jazz, and classical music. Unlike many of their progressive rock contemporaries, their "classical" influences ranged beyond the Romantic and incorporated mediaeval, baroque, and modernist chamber music elements. The band also had a taste for broad themes for their lyrics, drawing inspiration not only from personal events but from philosophy and the works of both François Rabelais and R. D. Laing.

Band members:
Members of classic lineup listed in bold.

Derek Shulman - lead vocals, saxophone, recorder, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, "Shulberry" (3-string custom electric ukulele) (1970-1980)
Ray Shulman - bass, trumpet, violin, vocals, viola, drums, percussion, recorder, guitar (1970-1980)
Kerry Minnear - keyboards, lead vocals (on recordings only), cello, vibraphone, xylophone, recorder, guitar, bass, drums (1970-1980)
Gary Green - guitar, mandolin, vocals, recorder, bass, drums, xylophone (1970-1980)
John Weathers - drums, percussion, vibraphone, xylophone, vocals, guitar (1972-1980)
Phil Shulman - lead vocals, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, recorder, percussion (1970–72)
Martin Smith - drums, percussion (1970–1971)
Malcolm Mortimore - drums, percussion (1971–1972)

Isn't It Quiet And Cold
Gentle Giant Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Isn't it quiet and cold walking all alone, alone?
Happened I missed the bus and found I had to walk, alone.
What was that?
Only me.

Hear the echo of my feet
Footsteps
Are they mine?

Hear the echo of the street.

Wished I lived near at hand although I live alone, alone
At least I'll find company, so why should I moan, alone.

Movement
By my feet
Paper wind across the street
Curtains closed
Sleepy heads

Wrapped together in their beds
I used to walk with someone else
I didn't seem to notice sights and sounds of the lonely street
I used to talk with someone else

Now the only answers are the calls of the night
Look at that alley cat, it's winding home to rest, alone
Half-past four and daylight shows itself once more

Walking all alone
Walking all alone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gentle Giant's song "Isn't it Quiet and Cold" depicts the experience of being alone and walking down a quiet street. The singer of the song misses the bus and is forced to walk alone, and throughout the song, they express their thoughts and observations about their surroundings. The lyrics touched on the feelings and thoughts most people might have when they are alone; the singer wishes they had company and someone to talk to, they observe the sights and sounds of the street, and they contemplate the passing of time.

The lyrics are simple but profound in its meaning, and the repetition of the phrase "walking all alone" creates an emotional impact. The song explores the theme of loneliness, and how even in a crowded city, one can still feel isolated and alone. The sound of the song is melancholy and reflective, reinforcing the mood of the lyrics. The sound is composed of a gentle guitar and harmony vocals, and its slow pacing creates a sense of introspection.

In conclusion, Gentle Giant's "Isn't it Quiet and Cold" is a reflective and poignant song that explores the theme of loneliness. The lyrics are simple, but the repetition and the emotion put into each stanza create an immense impact. The melody, instrumentation, and harmony vocals reinforce the mood of the lyrics, making it a beautiful and introspective song.

Line by Line Meaning

Isn't it quiet and cold walking all alone, alone?
It is silent and chilly while I walk without anyone's presence.

Happened I missed the bus and found I had to walk, alone.
I missed my bus, so I have to walk all by myself.

What was that?
I heard a noise.

Only me.
It was just me; there is no one around.

Hear the echo of my feet
I can hear the sound of my own footsteps reverberating.

Footsteps
The sound of feet hitting the pavement.

Are they mine?
I question whether the noise I am hearing is coming from me.

Hear the echo of the street.
I can hear the sounds coming from the street repeating back to me.

Wished I lived near at hand although I live alone, alone
I desire to have my home nearby, even though I live without companionship.

At least I'll find company, so why should I moan, alone.
I will find companionship along the way, so there is no reason to complain about being alone.

Movement
I see something moving.

By my feet
There is something moving at my feet.

Paper wind across the street
I observe a piece of paper moving along the street with the wind.

Curtains closed
I see the curtains are closed on some of the house windows.

Sleepy heads
The people residing in these houses are asleep.

Wrapped together in their beds
The individuals in the homes are sleeping snugly within their beds.

I used to walk with someone else
I used to have a companion when walking.

I didn't seem to notice sights and sounds of the lonely street
At that time, I didn't detect the lonely atmosphere of the street.

I used to talk with someone else
I used to chat with a friend while walking.

Now the only answers are the calls of the night
The sole answers I receive are the sounds of the evening.

Look at that alley cat, it's winding home to rest, alone
As I observe a cat returning to its dwelling place, I reflect on the nature of being alone.

Half-past four and daylight shows itself once more
It is now 4:30 A.M., and the light of day is beginning to appear once more.

Walking all alone
I am strolling with no companion.

Walking all alone
Continuing to walk by myself.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK SHULMAN, KERRY MINNEAR, PHILIP SHULMAN, RAYMOND SHULMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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